CHAPTER TWELVE

TEACHER CONFERENCE

The knock interrupting the ever present tedious paperwork was welcome. However, the relief Fortress felt at pushing the stacks of legalese to the side drained away at the sight of Claddagh's frown.

The teacher stepped into the room reluctantly, like a child with a bad report card.

Fortress stood and stepped around the desk, hoping to soften the atmosphere. "How can I help you?"

Claddagh shifted from one foot to the other. "I hate to be the one to bring this to your attention but...there have been problems with your project."

"My 'project'?" What would Claddagh know about any of Fortress' projects that Fortress' lawyers and administrators would not.

"Those...persons you brought in-"

Fortress frowned, Persons? They had names. "You mean Carter and LIE?"

"Yes. They attacked the other students in Master Yin's class." The words were slow at first but Claddagh finished quickly.

Attacked students? Why hadn't he been called? Fortress turned slightly and studied the painting of deep forests that adorned the wall. Something wasn't right.

Claddagh took advantage of the old hero's silence. "I know that you don't want to hear this but they obviously tricked you and they need to be removed-"

"You said that this happened in Master Yin's class?" Fortress turned to study Claddagh.

"Ye-Yes."

"Then, how do you know about it? Where you summoned as back up?" More importantly, why hadn't Fortress been called.

"Several students came to me to report it. They are nervous about being in the same building as those two."

Claddagh was still avoiding Carter and LIE's names. Interesting. "What did you tell them?" Fortress held up his hand. "Wait. I think it is more important to find out what happened and then we can decide how to deal with this situation." He turned back to his desk and pressed a button.

The receptionist answered immediately. "Yes, Mister Fortress?"

"Claddagh and I would like to have a meeting with Master Yin and Professor Fix-It as soon as possible."

"Yes, sir. Meeting Room Two is currently available and I will notify Professor Fix-It and Master Yin to meet you there."

"Only if they are available. If they're busy, then just find a good time for everyone and S chedule the meeting please."

Something about the receptionist's 'Yes, sir' was patronizing but Fortress tried not to think about it as he led Claddagh out of his office and down the hall to Meeting Room Two.

Master Yin met them at the door but Professor Fix-It arrived after ten minutes of awkward silence with an annoyed, "What is so important it couldn't wait until my scheduled dinner break?"

Fortress rubbed his hand over his eyes. It had been a request. He thought he had made it clear that it was supposed to be a request. Looking back at the scientist, Fortress gestured to a chair. "I'm sorry to interrupt your work, Professor, but I needed whatever insights you've gathered on Carter and LIE."

With a shrug, the professor poured herself a cup of coffee and slouched into the indicated seat, setting her tablet on the table.

With everyone settled, Fortress turned toward Master Yin. "Claddagh came to me today about an incident in your classroom."

Master Yin gazed at Claddagh for a long moment before turning back to Fortress. "I am not sure why Claddagh would have such an interest in my class and I can not think of anything that needed to be brought to your attention."

Claddagh came out of his chair, leaning over the table. "How can you say that? Students were attacked. Peregrine still has red marks on his face from that thing!"

Fortress leaned forward, demanding,, "Red marks? Has he been treated? Is he ok?"

Professor Fix-It answered, "Yes. When he reported to the nurse, I was called in. The poison on LIE's tentacles is not life threatening...unless someone were allergic to it of course. It seems to be defensive in nature, used for protection rather than hunting. It causes swelling and pain which we are treating with an ointment. As long as he does not scratch too much, he will recover without issue."

Claddagh sneered a moment before realizing where he was and schooling his reddened face into a more professional expression. "See? We were lucky this time. What happens the next time it attacks?"

Master Yin laid her hands flat on the table. "You heard the story only from Peregrine, maybe his friends...or did you ask others about the incident?"

"Who else did I need to ask?" Claddagh slapped the table, his movements emphasizing Master Yin's stillness.

This arguing was getting them nowhere. Fortress stepped in, "Master Yin, please, what happened?"

"We were discussing the Iron Plains Invasion which led to a debate between Carter and the rest of the class."

Fortress tilted his head, "Carter was debating the entire class?"

"Yes. They were debating if Silicon was a hero or not." The left side of Master Yin's mouth slanted upward.

"I'm guessing Carter was arguing for 'not'."

"Yes. He was making some excellent points-"

Claddagh's hands curled into fists, knuckles pressing into the top of the table. "Excellent points? That thug maligns a celebrated hero and you say he has excellent points?"

Master Yin's eyes shifted back to Claddagh. "Carter did not malign Silicon. He expressed an unpopular view but his statements were based on facts."

Fortress forestalled the debate. "So, Carter was arguing with the rest of the class. How did Peregrine get hurt?"

"Peregrine became agitated during the debate and advanced toward Carter in an aggressive fashion. Carter rose and took a defensive stance. I ordered them to their chairs but Peregrine continued to advance. I moved up behind Peregrine to forcibly put him back in his seat when LIE, fully transformed, placed herself in front of Carter and attacked Peregrine. I ordered the other students back and was attempting to extricate Peregrine when she reverted back to the sedated form, I assume due to receiving a shot of sedative. Carter ordered her to return to their place in the back and briefly verbally antagonized the class before also returning to his seat. I dismissed the class and took Peregrine to the nurse's office and remained until Professor Fix-It arrived."

Claddagh had sunk into his chair but his body remained rigid. "Isn't he supposed to be keeping her sedated?"

Professor Fix-It did not look up from her tablet as she replied, "LIE's metabolism burns through the sedative faster when she becomes angry or upset. It is the classic fight or flight response. Elevated adrenaline, heartbeat and aggression. She is attached to Carter. Logically, any threat toward him will upset her. Therefore, when Peregrine persisted in aggressive behavior toward Carter, it was only logical that her flight or fight response would be activated and burn through the sedative. As humans are predators and whatever alien was used also appears to be a predator, it is not surprising that she chose fight over flight."

Fortress noted that Claddagh was showing a predatory side of his own as he rose to lean over the table and growl, "So, you're all saying it was Peregrine's fault?"

Professor Fix-It shrugged and resumed tapping on her tablet. Master Yin answered the demand with a simple, "As much as fault can be laid, it is Peregrine's."

Claddagh's gaze whipped to Fortress, appealing, "Can you believe how they're blaming the victim? That he deserved what happened to him?"

Fortress sighed from a dark chasm, feeling every second of his century of life. "Peregrine was the aggressor." He raised a hand, palm out, to forestall Claddagh's protest. "I'm not saying he deserved to be attacked but he showed exactly the poor judgement we are trying to correct in our students. He tried to turn a verbal debate into a physical fight - that is a mark of a bully and, according to his file, it's not the first time he has tried to use physical intimidation. In addition, he chose a target of unknown capabilities which is something we're supposed to be teaching these kids NOT to do. I'm not saying he deserved this. I am saying if he had used good judgement, it wouldn't have happened. Still, better he learns the consequences of such bad choices here than out there. We need to make sure he understands starting a fight with an unknown quantity is not something to rush into, especially if there is a better option."

"Wouldn't a better option be to move your project somewhere else? I mean, he's a thug, she's a menace, the students are afraid of them now. For the good of the students, they need to go."

Fortress sighed again as he clasped his hands. "No. They need to be here. They need our help and they are a lesson."

Claddagh fell back into his chair. "Lesson? In what? Being a jerk? Keeping violent sociopaths as pets?"

Hands tightening, Fortress took a deep breath before answering. "That 'sociopath' is an alien/human hybrid that came out of lab where atrocity was the norm, where she was experimented on. The first kindness she received was at the hands of that 'thug'. He took on more than most would. He is here precisely because he wants to help her learn not to hunt humans, not to attack when upset. It's obvious he'd rather be anywhere else doing everything he used to do but he is here. He gave up his life to take care of her when it would be a lot easier for him to drop her off somewhere to be someone else's problem. He is here because that kind of responsibility and sacrifice is exactly what we're trying to teach those kids and we are the only facility where he can get the time and resources to learn what her mental capabilities are so she can be taught to behave within her capabilities."

"In addition," Master Yin's voice was loud in the ensuing silence, "I find his perspective refreshing." Her mouth quirked up on the right side to match the left, a rare smile. "These young ones have not seen the darkness they will fight. Carter has. He questions what they do not. It forces them to defend their assumptions, to think."

Claddagh was not defeated. "But, the other students are scared. How can they learn when they're scared?"

"Doing what must be done despite fear is the mark of a hero. We must teach them to manage and move past their fear."

Professor Fix-It looked up, "Just tell them not to start a fight with Carter and they'll be fine. So, can I go now or is there something else you need to waste my time with. I have results to review." Taking the five seconds of silence as consent, the scientist left, head still bent over her tablet.

The others left more slowly, Claddagh refusing to meet anyone's eyes.